Merrist Wood College and University Centre has officially opened its new state-of-the-art facilities following a £22 million investment from the Department for Education (DfE), marking a major milestone in the college’s history.

The new buildings were officially opened at a ceremony on 23 September by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey Neelam Dharni Devesher MBE.

The event was attended by representatives from the Department for Education, local employers and partners, and students and alumni of the college alongside staff from Merrist Wood College and University Centre and the wider Activate Learning group.

Merrist Wood College and University Centre, part of the Activate Learning group, is based on a 400-acre campus near Guildford.

The formal opening marked the completion of one of the largest capital investment projects in Activate Learning’s history.

The £22m redevelopment has transformed significant parts of the Merrist Wood campus, creating modern, industry-focused environments designed to support the changing skills needed by learners, employers and communities across Surrey.

At the heart of the redevelopment are the new Norman Shaw Building and Peyto Shrubb Centre, alongside new commercial glasshouses. Together, the facilities will provide learners with access to modern workshops, laboratories, technology and specialist teaching environments that more closely reflect the workplaces and industries they will enter.

The development builds on Merrist Wood College's long-established expertise in land-based education, including horticulture, landscaping, arboriculture, countryside management, animal management and equine, while providing facilities capable of supporting the increasing importance of science, technology, digital skills and sustainability across these industries.

The redevelopment has also been designed with sustainability at its heart, with highly sustainable, low-carbon buildings.

Gary Headland DL, chief executive of Activate Learning, said: “This represents an incredibly important moment for Merrist Wood College and University Centre and for Activate Learning.

“When we first secured this investment from the Department for Education our ambition was not simply to replace buildings. We wanted to create outstanding learning environments that would give people the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

“Seeing learners now using these facilities brings that ambition to life. This gives us an extraordinary platform from which to work even more closely with employers, communities and partners for generations to come.

“I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in bringing this ambitious project from an idea to reality.”

Jo Manser, group director of Merrist Wood College and University Centre, said: “Merrist Wood has a proud history and a very special place within land-based education but today is about looking to the future.

“The most exciting thing for me is not simply seeing these buildings completed, but seeing what is already happening inside them. They are places where learners can discover new possibilities, develop their confidence and skills, and prepare for careers in industries that are themselves changing rapidly.”

The redevelopment follows the groundbreaking ceremony held in 2024, which marked the official start of construction.

The investment forms part of the Department for Education's programme to improve educational infrastructure and ensure learners have access to high-quality teaching and learning environments.